Step 5: Fitting the pen

Step 6: Write with confidence!

The pen can now be grasped with ease and allow the person to independently sign their name to documents with confidence. I did all the modeling, not ...

Grapho-Sphere translates to 'Writing-Ball' and is an assistive writing tool for persons who cannot fully move digits in hand, do have some gross motor skills but lack ability to develop fine motor skills and have cognitive ability and desire to sign own name when required to do so.

Materials:
Foam of desired density (I’m using a foam football that was perfect)
Large bread knife
Small paring or steak knife
Pen/marker
Tape measure/ruler
Index card
Scissors
Small stick/toothpick (I used a small Alen Key)

Individual A (person for who i made the tool):
Can’t grasp a pencil/pen
Can loosely grasp a large marker
Can (due to resistance in hand function and foam density) hold a soft rubber/foam ball

Depending on a persons degree of ability the ball can be made with different foam densities. I chose a medium soft foam for the individual after having them test it out.

Now I think about it there are all sorts of everyday tools with narrow handles that this could work for- cutlery, toothbrushes, paint brushes- none of which would be very fun to use if you had restricted movement in your fingers.